Stones Throw Records turn the dial with their second track release of Brazilian guitarist and singer Gabriel da Rosa called Bandida (meaning Bandit). Channeling the bossa waves of Joao Gilberto, Luiz Bonfa and Caetano Veloso yet with a distinctive and contemporary energy, Gabriel is a brand new talent, who joins the Stones Throw Records family, originally founded by avid Brazilian music fan, artist and DJ Peanut Butter Wolf.
Having moved away from Brazil (where curiously he was part of a successful punk covers band) and settled in Los Angeles, Gabriel de Rosa was introduced to Peanut Butter Wolf and the two of them hit it off, sharing their love for Brazil, bossa nova, and records. It was from this point that Gabriel met producer and musician Pedro Dom (Seu Jorge, Rodrigo Amarante) and they began collaborating and writing some traditionally inspired bossa nova and samba.
Gabriel says: “Bossa nova was always a dream for me to play, one day. It was always this untouchable, unimaginable type of music that I perceived myself to be incapable of playing, till I slowly started exploring and getting comfortable with it.”
Bandida came about after Gabriel spent an idle night in, drinking wine and strumming his guitar. “the wine and my guitar brought out some bittersweet thoughts – all day I’m surrounded by amazing people, real friends and acquaintances, but at the end of the day, I’m alone.”
It was written with Pedro Dom and mixed by Mario C of Beastie Boys fame.
Growing up in rural southern Brazil with a radio DJ for a father and his mother a poet, Gabriel was exposed to all kinds of music from his home country, but it wasn’t until he moved to L.A. that he began curating Brazilian records, DJing and now, writing and recording traditional songs with a contemporary bent.
The video for Bandida was directed by Eric Coleman, filmed at 1642 – a neighborhood music bar in the heart of Los Angeles.
Musicians: Gabriel da Rosa (Guitar and Vocals), Pedro Dom (Agogo and Vocals), Bruno Coelho (Percussion), Rafael Tapia III (Tenor Sax), Gibi dos Santos (Cuíca), Monique Maion (Vocals), Justin Hodgson (Background Voice), Sarah Wilkinson (Background Voice).